Nov. 28, 2007

Texas Parks & Wildlife

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report

Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: The Panhandle experienced one extreme to the other last week with record high temperatures early in the week and snow over the weekend. However, slow hunting persisted in both climates. Outfitters reported large numbers of geese on roost ponds and playa lakes but not much cooperation when it comes to decoying. Good, not great, numbers of ducks, but very few hunters are taking advantage. Outfitters say the cold front did not bring a significant increase in the amount of birds in the High Plains. The bright spot is the number of sandhill cranes and their cooperation in corn and wheat fields. The region will get some runoff when the snow melts, but more precipitation is needed to recharge playa lakes. Prospects are fair to good.

North Zone Waterfowl: A wintry mix of  rain, sleet and snow provided a "ducky" backdrop for the final weekend of the first split of duck season. However, hunters did not notice a significant influx of birds as a result of the Pacific cold front. Normally, Arctic front prompt mass migrations by freezing up ponds in the northern states. Still, a few mallards trickled across the Red River the last week before the split. The most reliable duck in the timber has been the wood duck. Limits of woodies have come from just about any slough or bayou with water in the Pineywoods. Better hunting was had the past week along Lake Wright-Patman and the Sulfur River for those willing to scout and move with the birds. Mostly divers were harvested on Caddo Lake and Lake O’the Pines. Closer to the coast, ponds near Winnie, China, Devers, Nome, Brookshire and Sealy saw half-limits of teal, spoonies and gadwalls. Better hunts were had around Huffman and the Trinity River bottom near Liberty. The second split opens 30 minutes before sunrise Dec. 8.

South Zone Waterfowl: The first split of duck season closed at sunset Sunday and results from across the coast were mixed.  High Island seemed to be the hot spot on the east side of Houston with bags of green-winged teal, gadwalls, spoonies and a few pintails. The J.D. Murphree WMA near Port Arthur averaged three birds per man for the first two weeks of the season, then hunting slowed with mild conditions. The Justin Hurst WMA near Freeport saw similar results. Hunting on Trinity Bay and the surrounding marsh was fair at best. The coastal prairie near Eagle Lake, Garwood and El Campo enjoyed the best action throughout the first split with teal, gadwalls and spoonies leading the way. Large flocks of pintails were absent. That fast action waned last week with mild conditions, and never improved, even with colder temperatures. The marsh near Port O’Connor and Rockport was steady for those mobile hunters able to scout and move with the birds. Outfitters in Port O reported an influx of birds with the recent front. Goose hunting has been a disappointment thus far. Few juvenile birds are in the flock and decoying action has suffered because of it. Goose season remains open through the duck split. The second split of duck season opens Dec. 8. Prospects for goose hunting are fair.